- Che-courtesy-list - ecn.purdue.edu

April 2012 ChE Newsletter
by Farmus, Cristina D 06 Apr '12

06 Apr '12

Student Recognition - details are posted as spotlights on the ChE main page at https://engineering.purdue.edu/ChE/index.html: * Caleb Miskin - NSF 2012 Graduate Research Fellowship * Lizbeth Rostro - NSF 2012 Graduate Research Fellowship * Aniruddha Kelkar and Anand Venkatesan won the Soybean Alliance Competition * Hoyoung Lee won the 2012 Purdue ChE Faculty Lectureship Award * Anand Venkatesan won a Hugh W. and Edna M. Donnan Dissertation Fellowship from the College of Engineering Faculty recognition: * Bryan Boudouris received an AFOSR Young Investigator Program Award Staff recognition: * Sandy Hendryx is a Rose Award recipient for the second year in a row. This is given by the Mortar Board to clerical and service staff workers nominated by faculty, staff, or students who know the work habits of the nominee. Miscellaneous: * Qijie Guo, Moiz Diwan and Arun Giridhar received the 2012 Research Publication Award of our School of Chemical Engineering * The School Spring 2012 Newsletter is posted online at https://engineering.purdue.edu/ChE/index.html New Employees: * Ariel Muliadi - Changing from a Post Doctoral position to an Associate Research Scientist position in the same group, under the supervision of Professor Litster. Employees leaving: * Jun Wang, Post Doc, Fabio Ribeiro's group, leaving for an industry position * Mary Anne Madrid, Business Manager, moving to a Cash Analyst Position in the Purdue Treasury Office. Upcoming Events: * April 10-11 - Kelly Lecture * April 14 - Women in Chemical Engineering Seminar, 10.30 am - 2.30 pm * April 14 - FE Exam - many Chemical Engineering undergraduate students are registered for this exam. * April 14 & 15 - Purdue Spring Fest * April 26 - Senior Banquet, PMU, West Faculty Lounge, 6.00 pm * April 28 - EV Grand Prix * May 3 - End of the semester appreciation reception, Henson Atrium, 3.30 to 4.30 pm * May 11 - Graduation reception, Henson Atrium 4.30-6.30 pm. * May 11 - Commencement, Eliot Hall, 8.00 pm Best Regards, Cristina

1 0

Grad Seminar Announcement - Kelly Lectures
by Ewing, Virginia G 05 Apr '12

05 Apr '12

#1. Purdue University School of Chemical Engineering GRADUATE SEMINAR SERIES Prof. James A. Dumesic University of Wisconsin - Madison "Strategies for Catalytic Conversion of Biomass to Hydrogen and Liquid Hydrocarbon Fuels" Tuesday, April 10, 2012 9:00-10:15 a.m. FRNY G140 Reception at 8:30 a.m. in FRNY Atrium Abstract: Environmental and political issues created by our dependence on fossil fuels, such as global warming and national security, combined with diminishing petroleum resources are causing our society to search for new renewable sources of energy and chemicals. We will introduce strategies for catalytic conversion of biomass-derived carbohydrates to produce H2 and CO2 for fuel cell applications, to generate H2 and CO for synthesis gas applications, or to produce liquid alkanes for transportation fuels. We will also present a cascade catalytic process for conversion of cellulose to gasoline or jet fuel, passing through the intermediate formation of levulinic acid and -valerolactone. Bio: James A. Dumesic earned his B.S. degree from UW-Madison and his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Stanford University, under the supervision of Professor Michel Boudart. Dumesic joined the Department of Chemical Engineering in 1976, and he is currently the Steenbock Chair in the College of Engineering and the Michel Boudart Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering. Throughout his career, Dumesic has used spectroscopic, microcalorimetric, and reaction kinetics techniques to study the surface and dynamic properties of heterogeneous catalysts. Dumesic pioneered the field of microkinetic analysis, in which diverse information from experimental and theoretical studies is combined to elucidate the essential surface chemistry that controls catalyst performance. He has recently studied how aqueous-phase reforming of biomass-derived carbohydrates can be tailored to selectively produce H2 or directed to produce liquid alkanes. Most recently, he has been studying the use of levulinic acid and -valerolactone as biomass-derived platform chemicals for the production of fuels and chemicals. Dumesic has published more than 370 papers in peer-reviewed journals. Various information about research conducted by the Dumesic group can be found at the following link: http://www.engr.wisc.edu/che/ #2. Research Lecture James A. Dumesic Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering University of Wisconsin - Madison "Catalytic Conversion of Hemi-Cellulose and Cellulose to Fuels and Chemicals" Wednesday, April 11, 2012 11:30 am- 12:30 pm FRNY 3059 The conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to fuels and chemicals requires the effective utilization of the C5 and C6 sugars present in hemi-cellulose and cellulose, respectively. We will address how the hemi-cellulose fraction of lignocellulosic biomass can be converted to furfural and levulinic acid using biphasic reactors with alkylphenol solvents, and we will address the conversion of levulinic acid to gamma-valerolactone (GVL) in these solvents. In addition, we will show how various biomass-derived solvents can be used to extract levulinic acid produced by deconstruction of the cellulose in aqueous solutions of mineral acids. Finally, we will address the decarboxylation of GVL to produce butene over solid acid catalysts, combined with the oligomerization of butene to produce liquid transportation fuels.

1 0

FW: COMMUNICATION: Updates on INDOT SR 26 Project and US 231 Project
by Valley, Jeffrey L 04 Apr '12

04 Apr '12

FYI...................... From: Terry, Rebecca L [mailto:rlterry@purdue.edu] Sent: Tuesday, April 03, 2012 4:38 PM Subject: COMMUNICATION: Updates on INDOT SR 26 Project and US 231 Project Communications Announcement Purdue University - Physical Facilities TO: Building Deputies (Please distribute as appropriate) FR: Physical Facilities DA: Tuesday, April 3, 2012 RE: Updates on INDOT SR 26 Project and US 231 Project Updates on INDOT SR 26 Project The INDOT project for the repair and repaving of SR 26 (from the Wabash River Bridge west to new US 231) has begun with concrete pavement repair near the bridge. There will be lane restrictions from the bottom of State Street Hill to the bridge all week. Upon completion of this area, repairs will move west through the village area and campus. Work will continue through the remainder of the academic year. Beginning May 14, some sidewalk ramps repairs will begin along SR 26 beginning at Airport Road and working east. Following this there will be lane restrictions as they resurface the roadway into the summer months. Updates on US 231 Project The US 231 project will close Lindberg Road on Monday, April 9 at 7 a.m. just west of the McCormick Road intersection for the installation of a pipe under the roadway. The roadway is scheduled to reopen by 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 10. Note that sometime in August, Lindberg Road west of McCormick Road will be close for up to 100 days for the construction of the new intersection at US 231. More details will be made available at a later date. Use extreme caution in the area of McCormick Road and Cherry Lane. There is increased construction traffic in the area due to several projects. The continued work on the NW Athletic Complex is adding workers and traffic as the project evolves. Additionally E & B Paving is constructing a concrete batch plant immediately south of the Grand Prix Track to provide concrete for the paving of US 231. Beginning April 23, there may be trucks entering and leaving the area at a rate of one every 5-10 minutes during the pouring of concrete along US 231. Beginning Monday April 9, there will be lane restrictions and modifications to the area around Yeager Road and Northwestern Ave as Milestone Contractors begin work on constructing a new roadbed from Sagamore Parkway south to Northwestern Ave where they will install a new roundabout intersection. Later this summer, Yeager will be closed for up to 45 days for completion of the intersection. More details will be made available at a later date. Questions on either project can be direct to Dan Pusey, Utilities Engineering, at dipusey(a)purdue.edu<mailto:dipusey@purdue.edu> or 494-3415.

1 0

Congratulations to Bryan Boudouris!
by Varma, Arvind 03 Apr '12

03 Apr '12

Dear Colleagues, I am absolutely delighted to inform that Bryan Boudouris has been selected to receive an AFOSR Young Investigator Research Award! His project, titled "Molecular Design and Device Application of Radical Polymers for Improved Charge Extraction in Organic Photovoltaic Cells," will receive $120K/year for 3 years. I should mention that reviewing the list of awardees (48 awardees from 220 applicants), I know a few ChEs from other institutions who are in their 3rd or 4th year - Bryan has received this award in his very first year of faculty appointment, with the proposal submitted a few months after he joined us in August 2011. This is a most impressive accomplishment. Pl join me in congratulating Bryan for this tremendous recognition in support of his research program! Best, Arvind

1 0

Abstract & Bio for Dr. Warren Seider's Seminar on Tuesday, April 3, 2012
by Heide, Karen Kay 02 Apr '12

02 Apr '12

Dear All, Attached is a copy of Dr. Seider's Abstract & Bio. Karen Mrs. Karen Heide, Secretary School of Chemical Engineering Purdue University Forney Hall of Chemical Engineering 480 Stadium Mall Drive West Lafayette IN 47907-2100 765-494-4050 765-494-0805 (Fax)

1 0

Dr. Julie Liu's seminar
by Green, Brandy J 02 Apr '12

02 Apr '12

Purdue University School of Chemical Engineering GRADUATE SEMINAR SERIES Prof. Julie Liu Purdue University "Engineering Cell-Microenvironment Interactions for Stem Cell Differentiation and Tissue Regeneration" Thursday, April 5, 2012 9:00-10:15 A.M. FRNY G140 Reception at 10:15 A.M. in Henson Atrium Abstract: Tissue engineering therapies are currently being developed to replace diseased or damaged tissues such as cartilage, bone, and arteries. Due to their high proliferative capacity and their plasticity, stem cells have emerged as a promising cell source for tissue engineering strategies. To successfully utilize stem cells in treatments, however, it is necessary to develop efficient and effective methods for stimulating homogeneous cell differentiation. This talk will present our work on peptide-based cues for promoting differentiation of stem cells towards the cartilage fate or the endothelial cell fate. We will also present our work on developing a protein-based biomaterial for use in cartilage regeneration. Bio: Julie Liu received her B.S.E. in chemical engineering from Princeton University. She received a Whitaker Foundation Fellowship in Biomedical Engineering to pursue her Ph.D. in chemical engineering with a minor in biology from the California Institute of Technology. She was awarded an NIH postdoctoral fellowship to work with Jane Lian and Gary Stein in the field of bone and cartilage biology at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. In 2008, she joined the faculty of the School of Chemical Engineering at Purdue University. She has been awarded a 3M Nontenured Faculty Grant and the American Heart Association Scientist Development Grant to support her research in protein engineering, biomaterials development, and cell-microenvironment interactions.

1 0

Seminar Abstract-Bio/Announcement for Tuesday, April 3, 2012
by Heide, Karen Kay 30 Mar '12

30 Mar '12

Purdue University School of Chemical Engineering Prof. Warren D. Seider Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering University of Pennsylvania "Risk Analysis Using Large Alarm Databases" April 3, 2012 9:00-10:15 a.m. FRNY G140 Reception at 10:15 in FRNY Atrium Abstract: In most industrial chemical plants, hundreds of variables monitor the dynamics of their processes. When the variables move out of their normal operating ranges, alarms are triggered to notify the operators. Often, vast amounts of alarm data are recorded in databases associated with their distributed control and emergency shutdown systems that often remain "under-utilized". In this work, these large databases are utilized efficiently to: (a) project probabilities of occurrence of shutdowns and accidents, (b) assess the real-time safety and operability performances of processes and improve their alarm systems, and (c) develop leading indicators to forewarn operators of approaching incidents several hours in advance. Abnormal events, which occur when process and quality variables depart from and return to their normal operating ranges, are recognized as near-misses - as they could have propagated into incidents. Consequently, vast amounts of near-miss data are available for analyzing the performances of the regulating (process control) and protection (emergency shutdown) systems. A novel dynamic risk assessment methodology is introduced that uses the alarm databases to calculate the failure probabilities of regulating and protection systems, and the probabilities of the occurrence of incidents. The methodology consists of three steps: (i) tracking of abnormal events over an extended period of time, (ii) event-tree and set-theoretic formulations, and (iii) Bayesian analysis. New event-trees and set-theoretic formulations are introduced to compact the massive numbers (millions) of abnormal events, over several months of operation, leading to significant improvements in the efficiency of the probabilistic calculations and permitting Bayesian analysis of large databases in real-time. The Bayesian model accounts for the interdependences among the regulating and protection systems using copulas, which occur due to the nonlinear relationships between the variables and behavior-based factors involving human operators. As a case study, the methodology is applied to an industrial, fluidized-catalytic-cracking unit (FCCU) at a major petroleum refinery. A new leading indicators methodology using the alarm data is introduced to help identify an escalation in the probability of the occurrence of incidents - permitting the system to alert the operator(s) of a major problem likely to occur in the near future. Bio: Warren D. Seider is Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania. He received a B.S. degree from the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Michigan. For many years, he has contributed to the fields of process analysis, simulation, design, and control. In process design, he coauthored FLOWTRAN Simulation - An Introduction (with J.D. Seader and A.C. Pauls) and Product and Process Design Principles: Synthesis, Analysis, and Evaluation (with J. D. Seader, D. R. Lewin, and S. Widagdo). He has coordinated the design project course for over 30 years involving projects provided by many practicing engineers in the Philadelphia area. He is recognized for research contributions in phase and chemical equilibria, azeotropic distillation, heat and power integration, Czochralski crystallization, nonlinear control, and safety and risk analysis. He has authored or coauthored over 110 journal articles and authored or edited seven books. Professor Seider was the co-recipient (with Professor J. D. Seader) of the AIChE Warren K. Lewis Award in 2004, and the recipient of the AIChE Computing in Chemical Engineering Award in 1992. In 2011, he received the AIChE F. J. Van Antwerpen Award, and in 2008, he was recognized by the AIChE Centennial Committee as one of "Thirty Authors of Groundbreaking Chemical Engineering Books." He was elected as a Fellow of AIChE in 2005 and as a Director of AIChE in 1983, and has served as chairman of the CAST Division and the Publication Committee. He helped to organize the CACHE (Computer Aids for Chemical Engineering Education) Corporation in 1969 and served as its chairman. Professor Seider is a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of Computers and Chemical Engineering.

1 0

FW: COMMUNICATION: Warehouse and Surplus Club Car Sale through April 3
by Valley, Jeffrey L 27 Mar '12

27 Mar '12

FYI...................... From: Terry, Rebecca L [mailto:rlterry@purdue.edu] Sent: Tuesday, March 27, 2012 3:11 PM Subject: COMMUNICATION: Warehouse and Surplus Club Car Sale through April 3 Communications Announcement Purdue University - Physical Facilities TO: Building Deputies (Please distribute and post) FR: Purdue University Warehouse and Surplus DA: Tuesday, March 27, 2012 RE: Warehouse and Surplus Club Car Sale through April 3 Purdue Warehouse and Surplus has the following Club Cars for sale: * Two 1997 Club Cars (no hour meters) * One 1998 Club Car (2,153 hours) * One 2000 Club Car (1,096 hours) * One 2002 Club Car (2,082 hours) * One 2005 Club Car (759 hours) Interested individuals are encouraged to inspect the units between 12 and 4 p.m. on weekdays prior to placing their bids. Bids are being accepted through Tuesday, April 3, and the winning bidders will be contacted on Wednesday, April 4. Bid forms are available at the Warehouse and Surplus cashier window or at the following website: https://www.purdue.edu/salvage/graphics/forms/Bid_Form_GENERAL.pdf. Questions may be directed to Tom Tibbet or Mike Allen at 765-742-4414.

1 0

ChE Staff Awards - 2012 nomination window open
by Farmus, Cristina D 27 Mar '12

27 Mar '12

Good Morning, The Staff Awards Committee in the School of Chemical Engineering is happy to invite nominations for the 2012 ChE Staff Excellence Award. The criteria, nomination form and details are attached. Nomination Process: Any ChE faculty member, staff, graduate or undergraduate student can nominate any ChE permanent staff member. A nominator or contributor with a letter of support can endorse only one candidate. Nominations should be submitted to Cristina Farmus at cfarmus(a)purdue.edu<mailto:cfarmus@purdue.edu> by March 30th, 2012. Nominations should not be more than 2 pages long and need to include specific examples. Two letters of support are required (one page maximum), of which at least one must be from someone in our School. Due Date for Nominations: March 30th 2012, with the award to be presented at the May appreciation reception. Decision: The decision will be made by the ChE Staff Awards Committee and communicated to all School employees and students. Sincerely, Cristina, on behalf of the ChE Staff Awards Committee Cristina Farmus Administrative Director Chemical Engineering Purdue University 765 494 0027 cfarmus(a)purdue.edu<mailto:cfarmus@purdue.edu>

1 1

Grad Seminar Announcement -March 27
by Mamph, Jennifer A 27 Mar '12

27 Mar '12

Purdue University School of Chemical Engineering Dr. Michael S. Strano Department of Chemical Engineering Massachusetts Institute of Technology "New Concepts in Molecular and Energy Transport within Carbon Nanotubes: Near Infrared Sensors, Resonant Ion Channels, and Thermopower Waves" March 27, 2012 9:00-10:15 a.m. FRNY G140 Reception at 10:15 a.m. in Henson Atrium Abstract: Our laboratory has been interested in how 1D electronic materials such as carbon nanotubes can be utilized to illustrate new concepts in molecular transport and energy transfer. In the first example, we predict and demonstrate the concept of thermopower waves for energy generation(1). Coupling an exothermic chemical reaction with a thermally conductive CNT creates a self-propagating reactive wave driven along its length. We realize such waves in MWNT and show that they produce concomitant electrical pulses of high specific power >7 kW/kg. Such waves of high power density may find uses as unique energy sources. In the second system, we fabricate and study SWNT ion channels for the first time(2) and show that the longest, highest aspect ratio, and smallest diameter synthetic nanopore examined to date, a 500 μm SWNT, demonstrates oscillations in electro-osmotic current at specific ranges of electric field, that are the signatures of coherence resonance, yielding self-generated rhythmic and frequency locked transport. The observed oscillations in the current occur due to a coupling between stochastic pore blocking and a diffusion limitation that develops at the pore mouth during proton transport. Lastly, our laboratory has been interested in how semiconducting single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) can be modified such that their fluorescent emission is modulated in response to specific molecules, hence creating a new class of sensor (3). Such sensors have important advantages, including enhanced optical penetration of tissues in the near infrared, reduced auto-fluorescence, infinite resistance to photobleaching and most recently, single molecule analyte sensitivity. This presentation will review our recent efforts in this space including new platforms for label free protein detection, nitric oxide, H2O2 and the interfacing of sensor arrays to living cells. Bio: Professor Michael S. Strano is currently the Charles and Hilda Roddey Associate Professor in the Chemical Engineering Department at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His research focuses on biomolecule/nanoparticle interactions and the surface chemistry of low dimensional systems, nano-electronics, nanoparticle separations, and applications of vibrational spectroscopy to nanotechnology. He received his B.S from Polytechnic University in Brooklyn, NY and Ph.D. from the University of Delaware both in Chemical Engineering. He was a postdoctoral research fellow from 2001 to 2003 at Rice University in the departments of Chemistry and Physics under the guidance of Nobel Laureate Richard E. Smalley. From 2003 to 2007, Michael was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign before moving his laboratory to MIT. Michael is the recipient of numerous awards for his work, including a 2005 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, a 2006 Beckman Young Investigator Award, the 2006 Coblentz Award for Molecular Spectroscopy, the Unilever Award from the American Chemical Society in 2007 for excellence in colloidal science, the 2008 Young Investigator Award from the Materials Research Society, the 2008 Allen P. Colburn award from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and in 2009 was named one of Popular Science's Brilliant 10 for advances and new platforms for the biomedical detection of cancer.

1 0